Joining the American Kunekune Pig Registry (AKPR)

The following information is adapted from The American Kunekune Pig Registry.

About the registry

The American Kunekune Breeders Association was the first registry for heritage breed swine to require DNA testing for proof of parentage found anywhere in the world.  Now also known as the American Kunekune Pig Registry, the stewardship of the Kunekune pig breed and the integrity of the Registry remain our highest priorities.

The main aim of the American Kunekune Pig Registry is to ensure the conservation and preservation of the Kunekune by:

• Establishment of the Foundation Herd Book in America.

• Maintaining a registry of purebred Kunekune Pigs.

• Authoring the Official Breed Standard

• Encouraging the breeding and improvement of the Kunekune Pig for pasture, pork, and progeny.

• Providing expert advice on the breeding, keeping, and marketing of Kunekune Pigs.

• Promoting Kunekune Pigs through exhibition, publication and research. 

What the registry is about

The AKPR is a privately owned recordkeeping business intended to keep and maintain the FOUNDATION Herd Book which was established for all breeders of purebred Kunekune Pigs. The AKPR invites breeders to register a “Breeder Prefix” by paying an annual fee for inclusion in the listing of Registered Breeders found on the official AKPR website. The AKPR has established the Kunekune Pig breed in the United States and Canada having been the first pig registry to require DNA testing for Proof of Parentage and authoring the Official Breed Standard, recently making wattles a requirement for registration. The AKPR’s goal of preservation through pork production is the impetus for change and improvement in increased size, rate of growth, and carcass quality in this heritage, wattled breed whose origins are found in New Zealand’s Maori tribal lands. The AKPR serves as historian and educator on the Kunekune Pig breed in North America and welcomes inquiry regarding its origins in New Zealand, journey to the United States, and future as a meat animal to the benefit of all. AKPR heavily promotes the breed as a meat animal whose breed characteristics serve as a grazing animal for pasture, pork, and profit. The AKPR is run by a volunteer Board of Directors which includes its founder and appointed positions of president, registrar, historian, show director, and committee members.

Why 6E Farmstead is proud to be an AKPR breeder

We are proud to be AKPR breeders. Why? From day one of our Kunekune journey, it has been our goal to preserve this wonderful breed that we love by producing the best pigs we possibly could. This means only registering our very best. We strive to do this with every litter born on our farm. That is why we do not register unwattled pigs—because Kunekunes are a wattled breed. We want wattles AND great conformation and temperament and we believe you can have both! AKPR aligns with our goals. Not only that but from a business standpoint, AKPR makes sense for our family farm. With only the cost of yearly membership, it works great for us. Litter notifications and registrations are free! AKPR also supports us by listing us on their breeder list without requirements for how many pigs must be registered. Finally, and probably more importantly, AKPR is about preserving the Kunekune breed. They offer sanctioned shows to educate on conformation, the International Kunekune Preservation Project to promote the Kunekune as a meat breed, and educational web seminars.

Joining AKPR

It’s easy to join AKPR, just click the red button below and enter your information! You will then be prompted to pay your membership fee. You will receive an email (so be sure to watch your junk mail) with your herd name and prefix. It’s that simple!